This bill facilitates the transfer of the Moab UMTRA Project site to Grand County, Utah, after remediation is complete, ensuring continued environmental protection and prohibiting private reconveyance.
Mike Kennedy
Representative
UT-3
The Moab UMTRA Project Transition Act of 2025 directs the Department of Energy to transfer the Moab site to Grand County, Utah, at no cost, once the Department of Energy has completed sufficient remedial action. Grand County is prohibited from transferring the land to any private entity or nonprofit organization. The Department of Energy will retain necessary water rights to continue fulfilling its responsibilities under the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act.
Feds Plan to Transfer Moab Uranium Site to Grand County, But Restrict Private Resale
This bill lays out the plan for the Department of Energy (DOE) to hand over the Moab UMTRA project site—a former uranium mill tailings site—to Grand County, Utah. The transfer happens only after the DOE finishes cleaning up the site to a level they, along with regulators, deem safe enough for conveyance. The good news for the county? They get the land at no cost.
From Federal Cleanup to Local Control?
The main event here is the land transfer outlined in Section 2. Once the DOE gives the green light on the cleanup, the site becomes Grand County's property. This could open doors for local land use planning, potentially for public recreation or other community purposes, shifting control from Washington D.C. to Moab.
The Fine Print: What Grand County Can (and Can't) Do
There are a couple of significant strings attached. First, Grand County is explicitly prohibited from turning around and selling or giving any part of this land to a private company or a non-profit organization. This restriction aims to keep the land under public control, but it also limits potential economic development avenues that involve private partners.
Second, the Secretary of Energy holds onto the necessary water rights related to the site. This makes sense if groundwater cleanup is still ongoing, as the DOE needs continued access for monitoring and remediation. However, it also means the federal government maintains a foothold and some control over resources on the land.
Keeping Uncle Sam in the Loop
Beyond the water rights, the bill gives the Secretary of Energy the power to add other "terms and conditions necessary to protect U.S. interests" to the deal. This is a bit vague (Medium Vagueness noted). While potentially benign, it gives the DOE latitude to impose further restrictions on how Grand County can use the land, even after the transfer. It’s a standard clause to protect federal investments and ensure safety, but it’s one Grand County will need to watch closely during the transfer process.